A Note from Phil, Thursday 28 September

STARRY, STARRY STARSWhen charged with task of writing the Griffin eNews, I’ve been told it is best to open with a pithy anecdote, elucidate the goings-on of the company with a meaningful backstage insight and then close with a joke and/or a photo of the day Elliott brought his dog Peri into the office.*

Although, sometimes, it is far better to just let the cavalcade of stars do the talking and Diving For Pearls has quite the constellation…

“This is a production not to miss—seriously recommended…” – Stage Noise“Gherkin stains all over the concrete.” – Phil Spencer (Personal favourite line in the play)

You only have a few weeks left to catch this tremendous production—so book up or miss out!

THE FUTURE, THE YEAR 2018In the fury of living in the present, you may not have yet cast your eyes over our upcoming 2018 Season. You can do that right here, right now. If you fancy.

A FRESH BATCH OF IDEASI’ve spent the last week performing my storytelling show Hooting & Howling at Melbourne Fringe and can attest first hand that the alternative, independent, DIY, new writing scene is alive and well south of the border. As are ironic calypso bands.

Here at Griffin, we’ll be programming a suite of new works in 2018 for Batch Festival—so, if you’re an artist reading this, you still have time to pitch your brainchildren. Submissions close Friday 6 October.

MARTIN LYSCIRATES PRIZE (COULDN’T THINK OF A PUN FOR THIS TITLE, SO LEFT IT PLAIN)Last month we had the pleasure of reading a bag full of new play ideas for young people – there were a huge range of wild, unruly, heart-warming and hilarious scripts in the mix and as ever picking three was tough business. But it is with a great big smile that we announce Dan Giovannoni, Verity Laughton and Katie Pollock as the shortlisted writers for our inaugural Martin Lysicrates Prize. Our three finalists’ entries will receive a staged reading on Saturday 14 October at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. Cannot wait.